It reduces your risk of developing diabetes
Approximately 14 million Americans suffer from type 2
diabetes, causing symptoms such as increased urination, excessive thirst,
lethargy and blurred vision.
Left untreated, it can damage almost every organ
in your body, often leading to complications related to your kidneys or heart.Studies have shown that regular strength training at a moderate intensity helps to prevent type 2 diabetes.
As lifting weights builds muscle mass, this process enhances the way that the body processes sugar. The stronger you become, the more effectively your body controls blood glucose levels. Further, if you already have type 2 diabetes then regularly lifting weights may improve your quality of life.
It makes daily life easier
When you improve the condition of your muscles, many of everyday tasks will suddenly feel a lot less strenuous.
Here are some examples of common activities that immediately
become less stressful:
- Carrying heavy bags of groceries
- Lifting, carrying and playing with children
- Climbing several flights of stairs to reach your office or apartment
- Vacuuming, mopping or sweeping the floors
- Reaching overhead to put items into cupboards
- Pushing a stroller around town
- Pulling or carrying a suitcase
- Walking up a steep hill
- Ironing clothes
- Decorating a room
. It improves heart health
Cardiologists agree that strength training is one of the best ways to enhance cardiovascular health and protect your body against heart disease.
Strength training may lower your blood
pressure. For example, one recent study found that regularly lifting weights
could produce up to a 20% drop in blood pressure levels.
There is some compelling evidence that lifting weights may help to reduce
levels of LDL (i.e. ‘bad’ cholesterol), high concentrations of which are
correlated with a greater heart disease risk.Strength training also reduces your love level of C-reactive protein (which is a stress maker related to inflammation) and improves blood flow.
Older adults can also benefit
You should be encouraged to
start strength training no matter what age you are.
While older adults need to be more careful about damaging their bodies,
discussing strength training with a doctor will help to make sure that a safe
but effective workout plan is designed.Some research even suggests that adults who regularly lift weights are as much as 40% less likely to fall, which reduces the likelihood of serious physical injuries.
In addition, some promising recent studies have found that frequent strength training can reduce the bone and muscle loss normally associated with aging.
Your general quality of life could improve
Regularly lifting weights may influence mood,
sleep, and levels of chronic pain.
One study involving a group of men revealed a 5% increase in quality of
sleep after taking part in a strength training program. Participants felt more
rested after waking, and woke up less often during the night.A team at Harvard has found that just ten weeks of regular strength training is on a par with counseling when it comes to reducing the major symptoms of depression.
Strength training is an invaluable element of any attempt to improve fitness and lose weight.
